He’s got killer basslines for me. He’s sure Timmy’s got a number of solos, songs he plays lead, songs he sings lead. He sees to it that onstage, Dave gets a ten-minute drum solo and the occasion to act like a wild man. He gives Shawn an opportunity he might not have had to a life he deserved, but the world wasn’t gonna make it easy for him. He includes us in production. He delegates to Tom who sees to our every other need.

So yeah, he was the creative force behind Preacher McCade and the Roadmasters and the star of the show.

And he held the band together.

And that’s basis for sainthood.

[Off tape]

The trial was interesting in the sense of the Roadmasters.

[Nods]

That story hit, we were all in to back Preacher.

But he’d disappeared.

We had fucked up, and Tom, DuShawn and me felt that the most, but Dave and Tim also felt like total assholes.

So, even though no one can find him, we’re not gonna make that mistake again.

We’re hopin’ he’s with Lyla, but Tommy reaches out to her and she asks that we maintain a distance but shares she hasn’t seen Preach.

This is bad.

Where is the fuckin’ guy?

And how’s he coping with all this shit, especially without Lyla, because you know, sister, it’s a goddamn feeding frenzy in the media.

People dissecting every one of our songs.

That detective who didn’t listen to Preacher is still alive, but retired, and he feels like absolute garbage he let that situation slip like he did, and Tommy has to hire security for him because he’s getting death threats from our fans.

Fuckin’ hell.

[Shakes head]

And through this, Preacher is a ghost.

I wanna think this is a tactic.

That he’s got it all planned.

That he thinks, if he’s not part of feeding that frenzy, it’ll die down and that’s why he’s keeping his head low.

[Pauses]

It isn’t.

But Lyla is with the band.

[Nods]

She’s Lyla.

We’d hit a squall and the boat was rockin’.

So yeah.

Fuck yeah.

She’s with the band.

During both trials, every day of each trial, every member of the Roadmasters sat in the gallery.

[Nods]

With Lyla.

[Nods]

However, McCade only attended the days when he was testifying.

[Drums armrest with his fingers and nods]

And he walks into the courtroom, gives his testimony, then out of it, all without looking at the band or Lyla.

[Blows out audible breath and nods]

Now, Shawn might tell you different, because I know he feels the weight of it, but this is on me.

I was not sixteen years old and gettin’ my friends together to jam in my garage.

I was a grown man.